FATHERS LOVE

As I stress about my day, the laundry, dishes. Feeling as if this mountain of things to do is getting more and more over my head. Thinking if I could just get a hour to just clean and do things that I would just maybe catch up. During my recent moment of frustration about the condition of my house while picking up toys for the millionth time, I turn around to see this. My husband and son. This made me realize that there are more important things in life then how clean my house is. This moment tugged on my heart like no other. So moms the next time that you feel overwhelmed by motherhood, just sneak into your baby's room while they are sleeping, take a look and breath. There innocence will consume you. 

Lets take a this time to share our moments that have made us smile. 

Leave your link to a photo that made your heart melt, made your day all worth while or just made your mood go from bad to loving. 

Smart Mom's Teething Bling {review & giveaway}

We received the Teething Bling Necklace and I was pleasantly surprised when I opened it. I didn't expect the texture and the feeling of the necklace. When I put it on to wear during my fist nursing session with my son, I wanted to see if it would keep him on the breast as its something for him to play with. He seemed to love playing with it while he was nursing. When he was done and sitting in my lap he began to chew on it, that's were I feel in love. I really like this teething accessory! I do want to mention that just a week after using this teether with my son his first teeth did come through, we have been working on them for months. Not any other teether has really allowed him to chew and bite the way the Teething Bling Nacklace  does.

Things I love:

1. The colors.
2. The texture.
3. Easy for baby to chew on.
4. Easy for mom to wear.

Things I would change:

1. I wish that the necklace its self was adjustable. 
2. That's it........

I truly think that a mom that is struggling with a teething baby or a mother that needs something to keep baby occupied while nursing. This small accessory does it all. I highly recommend.

Wanna win one!

1. Follow this blog publicly. (mandatory)
2. Like Teething Bling on Facebook, and comment that The Great Letdown sent you. (mandatory)
3. Follow The Great Letdown on Facebook. (optional)
4. Follow Teething Bling on Twitter. (optional)
5. Facebook about the giveaway. (optional, this can be done once a day)

We will be choosing a winner on February 14th! Please be sure to leave a comment here for every entry that you do. Have fun and good luck!

*The Great Letdown was not paid for this review, we were provided the product for test and review. All comments and opinions in this post are that of TGL and not that of Teething Bling Company. 

My Brest Friend Review.

I was so excited to try this pillow, I have had a boppy for some time and never used it for the actual act of breastfeeding. I felt that it was just to much work. Not only that but it seemed to never be comfortable, so both my son and I would get a bit frustrated.

What we received

I received a package in the mail from My Brest Friend and I was more then pleased, I opened it and could not wait for my son to wake from his nap to try it all out. In the mean time my daughter decided that she would feed her baby doll with the pillow. We received the pillow, extra pillow cover, stool and the vitamins they offer. As you can tell the packaging is simple and appealing to the eye. This most definitely would catch my eye in a store (as it has) Everything was together nice and was easy to open.

Emma Breastfeeding her baby

When I opened everything the pillow was already as assembled as needed and was easy to use. I liked that it had a pocket for things like a bottle or a few binkies. The stool was 'some assembly required' but it was so simple, I didn't even need my husbands help :) I was not sure about the vitamins, but everything is worth a shot right?

Upon opening My Brest Friend Pillow, there is some great information about the pillow and there products that they offer. Some other things that I loved about the pillow is that it wraps completely around your body and latches. making it easy and comfortable to wear. Not to mention that it has a great back support to insure a comfortable and relaxing breastfeeding experience, if you're anything like me, this is important. My neck, no longer hurts and my improvement in my posture has helped my son latch on better and for longer.

I love this feature. Its a one handed adjustable strap, you can literally loosen or tighten the pillow. This is a nice feature to have when there is no one around to help ya with the pillow. The case that the pillow came in is very soft and a great neutral color. Needless to say this pillow has truly made my nursing experience much easier. Truth is, that my son and I were having some issues nursing and the moment that I put this on and sat down to nurse him with it,

he latched and stayed latched, fell asleep and slept for four hours. After that day I am not sure how I survived without the pillow. The stool helps a lot with my comfort, it keeps my knees up. I feel when I am relaxed so is he. I thank My Brest Friend for that. I truly feel that this pillow is a nursing mom mush have!

Please check them out on the web by clicking here and be sure to visit there Fan page on Facebook
Thanks for reading, Enjoy! Please refer all questions about products to My Brest Friend Company.

*The Great Letdown was not paid for this product review, we were provided the products for review. All thoughts and opinions are those of TGL and not that of the company listed.

{this moment}

{this moment} – A Friday ritual from Soule Mama, one of my favorite bloggers. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.

They Grow So Fast

I just want to know were the time went. It feels like just yesterday that she was just my little girl laying in her crib. I love her so much!

Its just so strange when you look back on how much they have truly changed. This makes me really appreciate what I have and love her that much more.

This post was inspired by Adventures of a Minnesota Mom, she does a flashback Thursday, I know its not Thursday but I still wanted to do it.

Please leave your link to share with me and others your baby then and now.

On a side note.

This weekend will be a review weekend, we will be posting some awesome reviews and maybe some more giveaways. So be sure to take that in mind. I hope that you enjoy the great products that we have to show you.

THANKS for reading!

Winner of My Brest Friend Fenugreek

 Congrats To Savanna! 

Our New winner of our Brest Friend Fenugreek Giveaway!

We can't thank you enough for reading our blog and participating in our giveaways.

Be sure to always stop in and check our what we have, and visit us on facebook.

Best wishes to you and your breastfeeding adventure! 

Megan R

Why Do 'They' say Breasfeeding is a Sacrifice

Everywhere I go, I get the same thing. People tell me what a great sacrifice I am making or that they could never sacrifice what I do to breastfeed. What I want to know is why its considered one? I don't see the sacrifice in breastfeeding, my body was meant to do this. I do get that a lot of people may think breastfeeding moms cant do anything, but we can do just as much as the next woman. We hang out with friends and maybe a drink here and there, we go shopping and plan lunch with our mother-in-laws.  There really isn't anything that I don't do. I know that breastfeeding is not for everyone, I have a lot of friends that never breastfed and some that just think its gross.

Breastfeeding to me is NOT a sacrifice. Why would I deny my child the best nutrition that I can give him? When I am fully capable of producing and breastfeeding? I love breastfeeding and I have a great relationship with it. It happens naturally, its what I was meant to do.

Here is my other thought, why is breastfeeding such a controversy? It shouldn't be. I know that there are people that don't choose to breastfeed and that is there choice. But choosing to breastfeed your child is also a choice. I will always support both, as its not my place to judge. The one thing on my list that I know most others are uncomfortable with is breastfeeding in public. I breastfeed in public and I am proud, that is the way that my son eats, end of story. Here is what I wish, I wish that I could go to the mall with my kids and when Emma is playing in the children's area. I can sit down and breastfeed Jack with out the stare, people pointing and giving faces, as if I cant see you! Or someone actually asking me to leave. I am covered and there is nothing that should be offending them. I truly believe that its the actual act of breastfeeding itself in a public place that disgust people, regardless of how covered I am.

Here is what I want people to take from this, I want breastfeeding moms to just let it go, there all not worth it and you formula feeding moms, don't let the a BF mom bully you. We are all moms that love our children and that's the only thing that should matter. Not how we choose to feed our children. I will always give as much support and advice to a breastfeeding mother as I can, I was told once that if not for my support that she would not have continued breastfeeding. I can't tell you how much that comment meant to me. So lets all just start telling each other what a great job we are doing. Lets face it being a parent is hard on its own, lets stop making it more difficult on one another.

Thanks for reading!

Skoy Cloth Review

I got the Skoy Cloth's in the mail about a week ago, I was not sure what I was getting into as I will try just about anything that says its user friendly and saves on paper product waste. I opened them and was a bit sketchy. I was not sure how this was going to do whats it promised to. But to my better judgement I was totally taken back, I love them! They are simple and absorb and well fool proof to use. the things that I love the most is that it absorbs 15 times its weight. You use it instead of paper towels or nasty sponges. 100% biodegradable. But here is the best part, its machine washable, and if you don't want to put it in your machine you can use the dishwasher. Its super easy to sanitize too. I would recommend these to anyone that I know. I think that they are brilliant and work beyond what I thought. Thanks to Skoy Cloths for allowing us to test there products. Be sure to check them out online at http://www.skoycloth.com.

How to win:

We at TGL were also given the opportunity to give these amazing cloths away.
here's what you need to do.

• visit the TGL Facebook page and like.
• comment on the post with the following: how they would help you, and what you do as a mom/dad to help save our planet. 
• follow this blog

Have fun and be sure to tell your friends. 

Please leave a comment letting me know that you have entered. 

This will stay going till the 1st of February. 

Share this with your friends :)

* The Great Letdown was not compensated for this review. We were given products to review. The thoughts and opinions are that of only TGL and not at all influenced by this company.

My Brest Friend Giveaway

CLOSED

The Great Letdown is proud to be offering My Brest Friend Fenugreek capsels for a giveaway.

My Brest Friend kindly donated this to TGL along with some products to review! I am currently using My Brest Friend's Breastfeeding Essentials and there Omega- 3 Lemon Fish Oil. I love them.

Fenugreek The most popular herbal remedy that has been used by millions of women around the world for increasing milk production.

• Research suggests that diosgenin, a natural compound found in the Fenugreek seed, may be responsible for stimulating milk production by up to 40%.
• An increase in milk supply is generally noticed with 1 to 3 days after supplementation.

I used Fenugreek in the first part of my nursing experience with my son and it truly helped. This is 100% my choice for increasing your mommy milk. And the only side effect is that your sweat and baby's urine may smell a bit like maple syrup. But I don't think that entirely a bad thing.

To Win:

• Follow this blog publicly. (mandatory)Leave a comment to allow us to know your following
• Like the TGL Facebook page

If your heart desires,

• Like My Brest Friend on Facebook
• Follow there Blog
• And let them know that The Great Letdown/Megan sent you.

Thanks for entering.

All entries must be entered in the next 48 hours! This is a fast giveaway! The more persons that can enter the better your chances.

We will be choosing the winner on Wednesday evening, You MUST leave your email or contact information in order to qualify.

In order to choose a winner we will be using random.org, that being said the numbers will be as you post. If you are the second person to post that you follow us, your # is 2. So please leave your comment telling me that you follow!

For budget reasons Non-USA residents are unable to enter, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

They're the Reason

My children. They are innocent and beautiful. They are funny and goofy, they know no shame. They love with all heart, and mean every word. They are my breath, body and soul. They are true and honest. They are intelligent beyond my wildest dream. Without them life would be loveless, lonely, sad and incomplete. I live every moment living through them, in the hopes they hear my heart sing to then. I love knowing that there is piece of my heart within them and seeing them reminds that miracles really do happen! I love them with my entire being. - M. Rockenbach

Remember to love, kiss, hug and be there for your children, They need us just like we need them. No matter how hard it may seem to get I can't imagine life without them. They are my reward every morning I get up  and they're all the reward I need.

All I Want

I have currently had a bit of a brake down. I think that the lack of sleep may have got its best of me. I just want to feel human and most days now I have not been. I feel that I am living someone elses life for them, I am not in sync with my own mind and spirit and its a bit upsetting to me. I want so badly to do well and please everyone, but I know that its not possible to do that. Being a mother is a absolute blessing and I would never want my life to not involve them, but here are a few things that I still wish that was part of my life. Showers in the morning and not before I attempt to make it to bed at 2am. I would love to get clothes on, not sweats that I was wearing the day before that are full of spit-up and god knows what else, to do my hair and put make up on my face and feel pretty by the time that my husband gets home. I just don't know where these simple things went in my life. A friend and I were talking about this the other day, we didn't realize how much we think of ourselves last. In order for me to be a great mother I think that I do need to start thinking of myself, taking those small things in the day that I need. So here is my promise to myself. I want to make sure that I do these things that I miss the most and not forget that I need to feel beautiful to be beautiful!

So here is to the mothers that feel worn out and frumpy, lets all take a oath that we will be better to our bodies and better our mind and soul by taking those small steps, and by that we can feel the same we used to. I know that youth is something that everyone wishes for, but I think by taking care we will all be fine.

Take care momma's of Minnesota, well all momma's really.

What are your #1 things that you miss the most?

WaterGeeks & Adiri Review

When my second was born I knew that breastfeeding was my goal, I was not able to do much of it with my daughter(3yrs) as she is allergic to milk protein, I tried to eliminate this from my diet but it was not working. She still continued to become sick from my breast milk. So I was scared and excited to try with my son. I am proud to say we have had only success.  As per my successful breastfeeding, my son would not take a bottle. That was becoming hard for me to leave the house for any length of time without bringing him. So I knew that I had to search for the right bottle, I wanted my husband to be able to feed him. When we came upon The Watergeeks Adiri Ultimate Nurser I knew that I had to try it! 

When I received our Watergeeks package in the mail I was more then excited! I ripped it open!

I could not wait to give it a shot. So that evening I had to go grocery shopping, perfect opportunity to allow my husband Dustin try it out. When I came home from the store, he told me that Jack really took to the bottle. I'll be honest I was worried and excited, I didn't want him to become confused, like with most bottles. I am glad to tell you that was not the case. I am so pleased that we found a bottle that our son will take but also does not cause nipple confusion. 

*some facts were pulled from the watergeeks site in order to provide solid and true information. please note this as you read. most are the thoughts and opinions of TGL

The Facts: The Adiri Ultimate Nurser is easy to use, it opens on the bottom for easy fill with breast milk, formula, cow's milk or juice. This bottle was thought up with mommy and baby in mind. I love the "petal vent" design, it protects baby from ingesting air bubbles and help baby drink naturally and reduce colic! Colic reduce is a plus for us as our son was diagnosed with acid reflux disease. We have the stage 3 aimed for babies 6+ months. Its comes with a warming cap, this was a redesign upon customer complaint about the bottle leaking. I feel that it truly works and is a great way to keep the fluids from leaking. With the new release of the Ultimate Nurser they added a bonus, when baby is older and is now enjoying finger foods and snacks. The cap and warming plat become a great snack pot! I have used it for this many times, I feel its a great way to keep Jack's snacks in my purse. The Adiri Ultimate Nurser is also dishwasher safe and easily sanitized. I fully recommend this bottle to all my Breastfeeding mothers.

The Watergeeks Filtered stainless Steel Bottle

I love this water bottle, its a great way to feel great about not adding to the landfill. Approximately only 10% of the 10 billion bottles of water sold each year are recycled. this bottle filters your water as you drink making it much easier to get great tasting water. The bottle is non-leaching and BPA free.  It comes in two sizes and filters up to 80 gallons of water. At about 5 1/2 months of use! My whole family Enjoys this water bottle. 

Be sure to visit there website, they're also on Facebook and Twitter!

*TGL was not paid for this review, there was no compensation. We were given the product to test/review for Watergeeks. All thoughts and statements are my own and were not influenced by that of the company.

Are You A Babywearing Mommy?

If so, then we at the TGL have some fun news!
Snuggle Baby Slings is allowing The Great Letdown readers a great deal!

The coupon code provides for 10% off an entire order on www.SnuggyBaby.com
The code is "TheGreatLetdown" and it has unlimited uses up until March 15th of 2011.
Jo generated this code just for TGL readers! How exciting!


{taken from TGL email}
*As a side note I am running an extremely deep discount on many things in my specials section at the moment.  Using your code, your readers can purchase items at more than 50% of regular price.  Those prices will likely run through the end of the month.

Be sure to check them out!

*please be following the blog publicly to receive this discount

{Some Of My Photography}

I just wanted to share of my favorite photos that I have taken, I hope you enjoy them.

*All these photograph's were taken by Megan R. and shall not be taken or shared without consent. Please if you wish to share/keep one or look at more, let me know via email and I can send you some. Small donations are required. Thank you

What If?

 Have you ever asked yourself 'what if'? Have you wondered if you set your fate or is it chosen? Well I believe that I wrote my own story. I believe that every event, moment and person was in my life because I chose it. Now understand that I may not like or know why these events and people were in my life, but it happens for a reason. So here is my story and how I believe that without all these moments and people, I would never have met my husband and have the children I have today.

 Growing up, my parents separated and then divorced. My father moved us from our home to a small apartment in a not that great of a neighborhood. My brothers and I really started a family with the kids in the apartments, we got together everyday and it was some of my most fondest memories. I never thought that my Father would meet any one. Well we had a neighbor and she was secretly in love with my father, but they were just really great friends. They both started this "online" dating thing or something together, and that's were they met! Before I knew it I was meeting this woman for the first time. She seemed so sweet and I really liked her. Shortly after that they decided to get married (that was a joke) and we moved upstate, to her house. Now I have no friends in this new place and a new school. I hated everything about it! I transferred to a smaller school, as I could not handle the big schools and the bad influences that surrounded me. So in this small school I became the new girl and no one liked me. So all I had was my studies and few friends to which one was a teacher.
 This teacher that I had was one of the only people that understood me. I talked to him more then my own father. I hated everything about my life. I had a mean stepmother(real live Cinderella here) Her two boys were spoiled rotten and I was always grounded for things I didn't do. I was not able to go any where or really do anything. So at this point I thought that getting a job was what I should do, just to get out of the house. So I started to work and nanny for two families as well. Before I knew it I was going to high school with two actual jobs just trying to make it, she made me pay for everything! The day I graduated was brilliant I knew I could get out, but how.

 My teacher (Steve) and I were still close, my parents knew about it and were fine as he was more of  a father to me then my actual dad. I was talking to him on the phone one day and asked the question. "what should I do? can I just come live with you and your wife?" And he said sure! Him and his wife talked to my parents about the living arrangement's and we are all ok with it. During this time I was dating a man for a few years already, I find out later that he was a terrible person and broke my heart many times. So I was in a different town with the family I wanted. Steve decided that I should learn to change my own oil. As I was learning that I had to run to the newly opened local parts store right in town, and that's were we met, my husband and I. I remember walking in and I could not stop looking at him. I knew that moment that I was going to marry him and I didn't even know is name!  So here I am another 5 years later and I am married to my soul mate and have two wonderful and beautiful children!

  Without all of these events and people in my life, fate would never have found me. I do believe that I chose my path and the people in it, but there is one thing you cant choose. You can not choose true love. So keep your mind and heart open, because the person that you "just choose" to be with, might not be the person your meant to be with.

  

Teenage Pregnancy & Adoption

Being a mother is hard enough, but have you had to deal with your teen getting pregnant? 

Have you adopted for any reason? Giving your life to someone else child is hard. Right?

I would love you to check out this blog of a:

Mother

Grandmother

Adoptive Parent and 

Foster Parent

Kinship Adoptions: Grandma's Amazing Journey

This woman is simply amazing. I can not imagine the struggles and the hardship that is in her life, but she wouldn't change it for the world! Please be sure to check out her blog and read her amazing stories. They have truly touched me and made me think of how lucky I am to have my children. I give all my Kudos to her! Here is to you, for being a mom, grandmother, adoptive mother, foster parent, friend, daughter, mother in law and so on! we truly need more woman in our world like you! Stay strong and love hard!